Woman flown 100 miles for hospital bed

A woman pregnant with twins had to be flown 100 miles by helicopter because no bed could be found for her in six counties.

Maternity staff at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, made around 40 telephone calls in attempts to find a place for the woman who had gone into premature labour.

Eventually, a bed for Lesley Mullins and two specialist care units for the babies were found in Birmingham Women's Hospital. Because of her condition she was flown there by police helicopter, taking an hour and 15 minutes.

Mrs Mullins, 40, from Camberley, Surrey, was due to give birth in June but doctors managed to halt the labour, although she will have to remain in hospital.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex spent 11 days at Frimley Park after giving birth prematurely to daughter Louise in an emergency Caesarian on November 8 last year. The Countess was rushed to the hospital from her nearby home.

A spokesman for Frimley Park Hospital said Mrs Mullins was showing signs of an early labour and no places were available there.

"It is the Trust's policy that expectant mothers of twins at less than 30 weeks will be routinely transferred so that we can provide mother and babies with the best appropriate care," he said.

"Unfortunately, after 30 or 40 attempts, somewhere in the south of England still hadn't been found."

He said if it had been dangerous, the woman would not have been transferred."The thing is we do have the facilities. If it had been the day before or after we may well have had a place. But you can't always account for such unusual peaks in demand."

The hospital and Surrey Heath and Woking NHS Primary Health Care Trust said it was the priority to keep mother and babies together if possible.

Mrs Mullins, who is due to have a Caesarian section in late May because of back problems, told the Daily Mail: "I never dreamed I would end up in Birmingham, but I enjoyed the ride in the helicopter."